Creating Space for Common Sense

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04/28/2015

Creating Space for Common Sense

A Doing Development Differently (DDD) event is underway in Manilla. When I read tweets about this an other events I am intrigued at two common, though highly contrasting views. One is that DDD (or PDIA, our DDD heuristic here at Harvard) is common sense. Nothing new and nothing really worth mobilizing a movement around. Another view is that DDD (or PDIA) is impossible to do in development, given political and organizational incentives and mechanisms. "We have no space to do this kind of work" is what I often hear. When I try to bring these ideas together, I increasingly think that what PDIA and DDD needs to be most focused on is simply offering ideas about Creating Space for Common Sense. I believe this space comes through drawing attention to problems, building political authorization, mobilizing groups, fostering joint learning, etc. It should never be assumed but it can be created and facilitated.

Posted at 06:16 AM in Doing Development Differently | Permalink

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My course at Harvard: See the series of lecture materials here

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The Limits of Institutional Reform in Development

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